ENGLEWOOD -- The dramatic improvement in the Broncos' secondary began in training camp. With so many new faces in new places, that's just what coaches had hoped for.

"We knew we had to get better in a hurry, so in camp we practiced with an edge," said Broncos strong safety Mike Adams, a ninth-year pro in his first season in Denver.

"One guy in the secondary would make a great play in camp, and it would be up to the next guy to try to top that, do something even better," Adams added. "We used a lot of different combinations (in the secondary) and had kind of a competition among ourselves."

A free agent from the Cleveland Browns, Adams was signed to fill the spot vacated when Brian Dawkins announced his retirement. Dawkins played his final three seasons in Denver to complete a remarkable 16-year career. There's little argument that Dawkins ranked among pro football's best safeties during his time in the league.

Broncos teammates must have joked to Adams that there was no pressure or anything.

"I just came in here and worked as hard as I could," Adams said. "We all did."

In 2011, the Broncos ranked 18th among the NFL's 32 teams in pass defense with an average of 231.5 passing yards allowed per game. This season, Denver (209.6) ranks fifth.

What's stunning about that improvement is doing it with new players. Among the current starters in the Broncos' secondary, only veteran all-pro cornerback Champ Bailey was a full-time starter in Denver last year.

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Early season starter Tracy Porter and now Chris Harris have replaced 2011 regular Andre Goodman at the cornerback spot opposite of Bailey. Adams filled the slot that opened with Dawkins' departure. And at free safety, second-year pro Rahim Moore has regained the starting job he lost during midseason a year ago to Quinton Carter, who is on injured reserve.

What may have looked like a patchwork secondary has meshed into a cohesive, sure-tackling unit that rarely gets burned by big plays. And there's dependable depth, including cornerbacks Tony Carter and Omar Bolden, and safeties David Bruton and Jim Leonhard.

Denver's 13 interceptions his season rank tied with Cleveland for second place in the AFC, behind New England's 14 interceptions.

Of course, the Broncos' ferocious pass rush is a huge factor in pass defense as well.

"Those guys in the secondary made some huge hits," Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard said Monday. "The secondary has been good from the beginning of the season, and they continue to get better every week. That really shows in their preparation."

Bailey cautions that there still is much work to be done. He should know. Bailey, in his 14th NFL season, has been selected to 11 Pro Bowls -- the most ever by a cornerback.

"By watching tape (of the Kansas City game), I felt we leveled off," Bailey said Monday. "We need to continue to grow. We've come a long way from last year, but there's still ways we can get better."

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MacIntyre feels Colorado is capable of making run at bowl gameCU BUFFS FALL CAMPWhen: 29 practices beginning Wednesday morning 8:30-11 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday practices are open to the media and public next week. Full Story

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